Shut Up & Travel: Day 1, Take a Random Vacation Day

According to a study published by the U.S. Travel Association, Americans abandon 169 million vacation days a year. 169 million! And, Americans only average about 16 days of vacation a year, down from 20 days a year fifteen years ago.

Are you one of those people who are afraid to take a vacation day? Is the real reason that you won’t go on vacation because you feel guilty even asking for a day off?

My tip this week — take one random, vacation day within the next thirty days. Make sure it’s not a Friday. Make it really random, like Tuesday or Wednesday. Then, take another random, vacation day the next month. The heavens will not fall, and taking a random day will get you used to not being a work on a work day.